Clicky

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The SZ3 was launched 17 months later than the RZ18 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ3 matches up against the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax RZ18

 SZ3 RZ18 
ReleasedJanuary 2013September 2011Fresher by 17 months

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic SZ3

 RZ18 SZ3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax RZ18

 SZ3 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ3 offers external dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ3 compared to the RZ18.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and RZ18 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and RZ18.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of images though you should always consider the production date of the cameras into account. The more modern SZ3 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography features
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography features
30
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography details
Pentax RZ18 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than others (178 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
71
lighter than others (178 grams)
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography info
39
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging details
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging details
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.10 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126 gr (0.28 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $150 $210